Safety mechanism for centrifugal driers



1951 G. A. OBERG SAFETY MECHANISM FOR CENTRIFUGAL DRIERS 2 SHEETS -SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1949 I'mventor Gunnard A. Oberg G. A. QBERG SAFETY MECHANISM FOR .QENTRIFUGAL DRIERS Oct. 30, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1949 r 3nnentor Gurmard A Obe fi-M Patented Oct. 30, 1951 SAFETY MECHANISM DRIE Gunnard A. ober'g, Celoron, N. .Y., assignor to Blackstone Corporation, Jamestown, :N. Y., a

corporation of New York FOR CENTRIFUGAL its Application January 15, 1949,*'Seria'l No. 71,095

*or may be used in connection with a combined washing and drying machineor other centrifugal drying devices. This mechanism includes a switch that is in the circuit of the motor which operates the receptacle, and trigger means for moving the switch into an off-position at any time the receptacle vibrates beyond a predetermined extent.

It is well known that-centrifugal clothes dryers frequently become damaged or rendered unsafe to operate due to an operators failure to more or "less uniformly distribute articles of clothing about the receptacle, prior to commencing the spinning "or drying operation. With only a few clothes in the receptacle, little or no vibration is likely to occur during a spinning operation. However, with a normal load in the receptacle, it is desirable that the clothes be rather "evenly distributed to prevent an unbalanced condition during high speed rotation. Generally, the need for distributing clothes in such a receptacle usually only occurs when the receptacle is being used primarily as a spinner dryer. In many combination washing and drying machines, the clothes, following a washing operation, are sufficiently distributed .to preclude excessive vibration during the succeeding spinning operation.

.It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism that will function to shut olf a spinner drying machine when said machine is operating under improper load conditions.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism that is operatively associated with a suspended support for the rotatable receptacle of a drying machine.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a switch mechanism that operates ftos'hut ofi the motor of a spinner drying machine when vibration transmitted to the support of the spinning receptacle reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention "will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in con- 5 Claims. (Cl. 2l')0-52) 'in Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure of Fig. 2, the mechanism being shown in set position; and

Fig. '4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the mechanism following operation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral It is employed to generally designate a device for washing and drying clothes. The invention is shown associated with such a device although it will be understood from the following description that it is equally applicable to any type of centrifugal dryer wherein the mounting means for the rotatable receptacle is resiliently supported. In the present instant, the device includes a cabinet 1 1, access to which may be had through an opening closed by a cover l2. Within the upper portion of the cabinet is located what may be termed a splash ring [3. Within the ring [3 is located a 1'0- tatable receptacle M which is carried by a suit able support l6. This support includes a sleeve or housing I1, through which a drive shaft projects and, on its upper end, mounts the receptacle I4. The drive shaft, of course, is connected with an electric motor which provides operative power for all. functions of the device. The lower portion of the support, for purposes of illustrating the invention, may consist of a spider 18, having terminals l9 that, through suitable resilient blocks 2 I, are secured to a base 22 by means of bolts 23. From the description thus far it is evident that any vibration of the receptacle l4 during a spinning operation will be transmitted to the support 16. In view of the fact that the device it is shown to be a combination washing and drying machine, there is shown a water pump 24 which is mounted on a lower portion of the support 16. The sole purpose of showing and describing the water pump is due to the fact that the mechanism of the invention, in the present disclosure, is found to 'be more conveniently operatively associated therein. It will, however, be understood that the shut off mechanism may be equally applicable to any other part of the resiliently mounted support for the rotatable receptacle.

is attached to the bracket base and corresponds in opposed relationship to arm 29. The upstanding portion 34 of this plate is slotted as at 36.-- A

slidable bar 31 projects through slots 3| and3fi.

to ,stop due to the fact that the motor circuit it to engage and move member 41, thus swinging member 43 about its pivotal support and breaking the straight line condition of member 43 and bar 31 under compulsion of spring 42. As soon as shoulder 53 clears bar 31, said bar moves in a lateral direction, and arm 38 thereof fm'ove's'knob 21 of the=switch into off position.

Thus, regardless of the fact that the motor for the receptacle is still intended to be operating, it will immediately cease and the receptacle come has been broken by operation of switch 26.

At one end this bar is formed with an arm 38 which is in the plane of the knob 21 and, as

or with simple modification, and that such modishown in the drawing, is engaged with said knob when the switch is in the "on position. Projecting through an opening in the bar 31 is a split pin 39. One wing 4| of this .pin is bent against the bar to prevent displacement. The other wing serves as an abutment for one end of a compression spring 42 which is shown to encircle the bar throughout a considerable portion of its length. The other end of this spring abuts the arm 29 of the fixed bracket 28.

Mounted on the offset arm 32 of the bracket 28 is a pivotal member 43. This member includes a short arm 44 which terminates in an upstanding flange 45. A threaded opening in this flange receives a threaded contact member 41 which may be locked in any position of projection beyond said flange by means of a nut 48. The member 43 includes a long arm 49 which terminates in an offset finger 5|. The end of the finger 5! is connected with the head of pin 39 by means of an expansion spring 52. Adjacent the finger 5!, arm 49 is provided with a shoulder 53 which, in one position of the member 43, serves as an abutment for an end of bar 37. As may be seen in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing, the member 43, although carried by a fixed portion of the device, is in such proximity with the water pump 24 as to enable adjustment or, the member 4'! into close proximity with the most laterally extending portion of said pump. a

The structure of the invention having been described, the following is set down to disclose the operative advantages. The device, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, is in set position, the switch 26, in the receptacle motor circuit, being in the on position. Referring more particularly to Figure 3, it will be noted that member 43 has been turned to bring the end of member 41 into close proximity with a lateral extension or lug on the water pump 24. It will also be noted that member 43, in this position, is in alignment with bar 31. Due to the fact that spring 42 has been compressed, one end of said bar is in pressure contact with shoulder 53 and spring 52 is under expanded tension. If, as brought out in the explanation of the advantages of the invention, an operator of the device attempts to spin dry articles that have been unsiderable vibration will occur. Since the support [6 is resiliently mounted on the base of the device, this vibration, if excessive, will be directly transmitted from the receptacle to the support.

,65 evenly distributed about the receptacle, con- Of course, the pump 24, being carried by the support, will also vibrate and such vibration will cause a lateral shifting of the pump at least to an extent suggested in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing. Lateral movement of the pump causes Although applicant has shown and described only oneform of his invention and its application to a particular type device, it will be understood that the invention is fully applicable to a variety of centrifugal devices in its present form ficationand use are within the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is: v

1. In a device having a rotatable receptacle mounted on a resilient suspension and including electrically operated means for rotating said receptacle; a shut-off mechanism comprising a switch in the circuit of said means, a contact member mounted for movement into either of two positions and in one of, said positions being in close proximity with a part carried by said suspension, and spring actuable means connecting said member with said switch, said member being moved into the other of said positions by contact of said-part therewith to render said spring means operable to actuate said switch to open the circuit of said electrically operated means.

' 2. In a device having a rotatable receptacle mounted on a resilient suspension and including electrically controlled means for rotating said receptacle; a shut-cit mechanism comprising a switch in the circuit of said means, a contact member mounted for movement into either of two positions and in cne of said positions being in close proximity witha part of said suspension, a slidable bar operatively associated with said switch, means normally urging said bar in a direction to move said switch into one position, said member, when .in the position of proximity with said part, serving to prevent movement of said bar.

3. In a device having a rotatable receptacle mounted on a resilient suspension and including electrically controlled means for rotating said receptacle; a shut-off mechanism comprising a switch in the circuit of said means, a contact member mounted for pivotal movement into either of two positions and in one of said positions being in close proximity with a part on said suspension, a slidable bar operably associated with said contact member and operable to actuate said switch, and spring means urging said bar into abutment with said member when in said one position.

4. In a device having a rotatable receptacle mounted on a resilient suspension and including electrically operated means for rotating said receptacle; a shut-on mechanism for said means comprising a switch in the circuit of said means, an operable arm extending from said switch, a pivotal member, spring actuable means for setting said member in a position of near proximity with a part of said suspension, said spring actuable means being engaged with said arm and operable to open the circuit of said means when said member has been contacted and moved by tion or near proximity with a part of said suspensaid suspension part. sion and said bar in a position to close said switch. 5. In a device having a rotatable receptacle GUN'NARD A. OBERG.

mounted on a resilient suspension and including electrically operated means for rotating said 5 REFERENCES CITED I recept'fwfle; a P F mechanisrfl for means The following references are of record in the comprising a switch in the circuit of said means, file of t patent;

a pivotal member, a slidable bar engaged with and movable to open said switch, spring means UNITED STATES PATENTS manually operable to set said member in a posi- 10 Number Name Date 2,328,114 Weaver Aug. 31, 1943 

